Imelda May will be taking her new baby on the road when she sets off for her first gigs since becoming a mum.

The singer, 38, has been taking time out with Violet who was born eight months ago but she’s now ready to tour again – as long as her daughter can come too.

Speaking in the latest edition of Irish Tatler Imelda said she loves being a mum.

She revealed: “She’s absolutely brilliant. It’s been amazing and it’s funny, I can’t imagine life without her, and she’s only been here eight months.”

Imelda May’s husband Darrel is also in her band so the singer said it was a “happy accident” that Violet arrived when they were able to take time off.

She added: “You want to take the time with your baby because you can never get that back again.

“You just want to stay at home and gaze into your baby’s eyes. So that’s all I did. But now I’m dying to get back gigging, because I love it, I really do, it’s great.”

Imelda May will be back on the road for the Westport Festival and little Violet will be introduced to some musical greats like Christy Moore and Elvis Costello.

It’s just one of the dates in the singer’s diary for the summer but she reckons Violet is going to be a welcome addition to the band on the road.

Imelda said: “She’s small enough and she’s a real social baby, which is great. She’s used to meeting the band and all that. So, until she’s in school [she’ll tour with us].”

The singer is rarely seen without her trademark quiff and red lipstick and she confessed that even just after giving birth she was reaching in her bag to put on a slash of her staple MAC Ruby Woo colour.

She said: “I do try, I have to say. I think it’s therapeutic. It’s good to get up in the morning and put my quiff in and put my lipstick on. Even in the hospital.

“I’m sure any woman reading this who’s had babies will know...you do feel rough, so anything to make you feel better.

“And people are coming to see you with cameras and you’re, ‘Oh no, hang on a second, where’s me handbag, quick.”

Imelda told how she is looking forward to getting back to the day job.

She said: “Rehearsals have been great. Being back with the lads again, the banter and all, the usual. I think we’ve all missed it so it was good to get back together and everyone’s really excited about the songs on the album, so that’s great.”

And the singer has been working on a new album during her time off. All through her pregnancy she suffered from a writer’s block which vanished when the baby arrived.

Imelda said: “I didn’t write at all while I was pregnant.

“It was like my body was busy, and I was fine with that. So I wasn’t sure what I’d be writing once I’d had the baby.”

But the sleepless nights experienced by most with a new arrival proved to be prolific for the star’s work.

She said: “I was awake anyway, sitting up awake all night.

“I thought I may as well be writing. So I’ve been writing away and I’m really happy with how it’s gone.”

Imelda with husband Darrel

But don’t expect gentle tunes on the new record as Imelda said she’s more than ready to rock out.

She added: “I have written a lullaby on it. But the rest of it is really rocking out.

“I don’t know, the baby’s asleep in the cot and my mind is spinning on and it’s rocking out.

“Hopefully it’s a kick ass album. I don’t know what that says about me.”

Imelda said that as a live performer she prefers her material to be upbeat – otherwise she would be too sad to continue.

She added: “I’m very much aware that I’m a live performer you know, whereas some people just record.

“I’m aware that whatever it is I’m recording I’m going to want to gig and I really love having fun on stage.

“If I was to write a really sad album, I know I’m probably going to have to sing that every night for a year.

“I don’t think I’d want to do that because it would get you really down in the dumps after a while.

"I do write sentimental things and I do try to put a couple of sweet songs on an album as well, but I know for myself and the band and the audiences that come to see us – they want to have a good time.”

Imelda added that traditional family nights singing in front of her relatives inspired her to want to do music full-time.

She said: “I would have been probably inspired by my mam and my family.

“We’re a big, well, not a huge family by Irish standards, but five kids and the parents and with all my aunties and uncles, there were a lot of parties.

“I think that’s normal for a lot of families at home.

“There was always an emphasis on fun. I’m like anybody else, I like to have a great time and music does that for me.

“Certainly, growing up, when we had parties, they were always based around a sing song.

“So I would say that definitely influenced me. For me, music and a good time go hand in hand.”

The full version of this interview can be seen in this month’s Irish Tatler Magazine which is in the shops now.